Bewkes announces Warner Bros succession plan

Warner Bros chairman and CEO Barry Meyer will extend his contract on April 1 2011 while on the same day president and COO Alan Horn’s (pictured) full-time role at the studio will end and he will become a consultant. Both agreements will run until December 2013.

The industry has been aware for some time that Meyer and Horn would eventually leave after years in charge of Warner Bros. The most interesting aspect of Bewkes’ announcement was the formation of an office of the president comprised of Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros Pictures Group, Bruce Rosenblum, president of Warner Bros Television Group, and Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group.

It remains to be seen who, if anybody, will eventually rise from the trio to the sole office of president. For the time being, the triumvirate will report to Meyer commencing on April 1, 2011. Each of the three executives will retain his current responsibilities and become more engaged in the operations of the overall company.

“After a great deal of thought and many discussions with Barry and Alan, we decided that this phased plan was in the best interest of Warner Bros and its businesses,” Bewkes said. “Barry and Alan have overseen the most successful years in the company’s history, and I am very pleased that they are remaining to guide this transition and to ensure as little disruption to our operations as possible.”

“The formation of the office of the president acknowledges the many contributions Jeff, Bruce and Kevin have made and the leadership they continue to show not only in their businesses but in our industry as well. Their vision will take Warner Bros into the future, and we are very confident in their abilities to chart its strategic direction and define new areas of growth for the company.”

“Stability and consistency are the hallmarks of Warner Bros, and this plan underscores our commitment to an orderly succession and to promoting from within,” Meyer said. “I have been enormously fortunate to have a partner in Alan Horn, whose integrity and talent are unrivalled, and with whom I have worked side by side for the past 12 years. I am very glad that we will continue to work together and that his consultancy is linked to my future plans at the company.”

“It’s been a privilege and an honour to work at Warner Bros and to build its motion pictures operations into a global force,” Horn said. “From our beloved Harry Potter to all the wonderful films we have going forward, I am very proud of what we’ve accomplished and happy that Barry and I will continue to provide support to the studio going forward.”